recording "egg" shaker

[guy]

I need to do overdub of "egg" shaker over a rythem'n'blues-folk kind of track, the sound should be accurt and groovy as played.
in my studio I have a big room whichis quit live (stone and wood) and very small dead vocal booth.
how would you achive this (placment, room, mic)?
check my equipment available : http://www.lowswing.de/02equip/equip.html
thanx
guy

 

[nessbass]

one thing that helps recording a shaker is: stay away from the mic. Don't close mic it. I'd try one of the condensers first and then listen to the transients. When they're too loud and too -well- much, then try a dynamic.

 

[chessrock]

check my equipment available : http://www.lowswing.de/02equip/equip.html

Looking at all your mic list. So many good ones I can't decide -- too busy drooling with envy. Will come back later with comment. Over.

 

[maestro_dmc]

one thing that helps recording a shaker is: stay away from the mic. Don't close mic it. I'd try one of the condensers first and then listen to the transients.

Sorry to disagree, but I've gotten quite good results close micing a shaker. I used a Small Diaphram Condenser with the back end pointed toward the mouth of the performer, and the front end about 3-4 inches from the line of travel of the shaker. Depending on the song you might want to position the mic toward the end of the swing to catch more accent, etc.

 

[maestro_dmc]

Oh yeah , and use the "dead" room.

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

As a sidenote, I see you got many great comps and limiters. In that bunch you also have a TL Audio 5021 stereo tube comp. I've been looking at that unit for some time and can't help asking, how do you think it performs ? Obviously it's cheaper than the 1176 and your other units and shouldn't be compared to them, but give me your opinion about it anyway. Good or bad ? Character or not, and if so, what kind ? Especially usable on some sources and if so, which ones ?

 

[Tonio]

what everyone suggested already is good!

not to apose what maestro_dmc said it really depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for accents on the beat or off that would be good, however, if you are looking for the whole stroke (no pun intended) it may need a different approach.

A SD condensor at a distance maybe 12-18" up angling about 45 degrees to the stroke may capture it. Cut the low (HP filter) too.

Its hard getting the whole stroke from an egg shaker. You could also try the 414 in omni also, if the room sounds, But of course the it depands on what kinda sound you are looking for.

Try in both to see what happens.

I usually have to cut the lows off.

YMMV

Good luck

T

 

[guy]

thanx all!
Stefan Elmblad for your question on the 5021, as you guessed it doesn't compare to 1176 or my adr compressor and as compressor it self i like even the rnc mostly better. it is actually not even a tube compressor as tl-audio want you to think, the only tube stage is the line input amp (i think), thats give though the tube "flavor", I use the unit quit alot when tracking voices that needs to be distorted (i drive the tube very hot directly after the mic pre and than to tape) it is also usful for a mellow bass sound using the front panel instrument input.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Try a Behringer ECM8000 in the dead room, and play around with the distance. The Behringer's a little noisy, which isn't that bad for that application. Good for shaker and tambourine, and dirt cheap. That's a cheap enough mic that you can buy one just for that job, and pay for it with the time it will take to track it. And if you don't own 1 or 2, you should, just for tracks like that.-Richie